CHAPTER 3

Two days later…

'STATUS'

NAME: ALEX DORTON

AGE: 17

RACE: HUMAN

CULTIVATION: LEVEL 1: 9/10 EXP (UNRANKED)

CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE: HARMONY CHAPTERS I

SKILLS: BIND

PHYSIQUE: FLORAE'S BLESSING

While checking his status he also checked around the room if he has things he has forgotten to pack up.

As for the seed, he put it in a small pot with soil for the mean time. In these two days of watering, it did not budge even a single bit.

'Everything seems to be ready for the move.'

He got out of his room and stepped outside going to the forest.

After today's cultivation session he will have his first breakthrough and he is excited to witness what will happen to his body after the breakthrough.

He noticed some changes after cultivating for two days, his aura has become a little bit calmer and his mind seems clearer after each session. He is more comfortable on environments full of vegetation like the back forest of the orphanage where he usually cultivates.

He arrives at his usual spot and sat crossed-legged. He found that sitting crossed-legged is beneficial to his practice yesterday, if he sits on a different posture, he can't concentrate so he decided to do it this way from now on.

As everything calms down, he felt the cool sensation again and refined it.

After an hour he finished refining the strand of qi and the system notification rang but he ignored it. He continued to meditate.

A minute later he feels that the area below his stomach slowly become bloated. It's uncomfortable but not painful. It reached a breaking point and after that the bloating slowly disappeared and he breath out a lot of foul air.

Then he suddenly felt comfortable and relaxed like he is floating and the sensation disappeared a few seconds later.

He opened his eyes and found that his senses seem to have improved. Everything seems to have become clearer.

He observed his body and noticed minute changes. His skin tone became healthier and he felt lightweight.

[Ding!]

[Host has completed one of the daily quests.]

[Reward: 1 EXP and 2 POINTS]

'STATUS'

NAME: ALEX DORTON

AGE: 17

RACE: HUMAN

CULTIVATION: LEVEL 2: 1/20 EXP (UNRANKED)

CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE: HARMONY CHAPTERS I

SKILLS: BIND

PHYSIQUE: FLORAE'S BLESSING

Nothing really has changed except the cultivation level. He got up, patted his trouser and got out of the forest.

He tread along the way as he arrived at the dean's office.

He knocked on the door while pondering about tomorrow's events, he heard the dean's signal and entered the office.

He stood in front of the desk.

The dean scrutinized him looking up and down.

"Uhmm… dean, I am here to inform you that everything in my room has been packed and are good to go." Saying awkwardly while wondering what is wrong with his face.

"There's something different from you today…"

"You look… for the lack of a better word, fresh. Yeah fresh, that's it." The dean said. Maybe because it's his birthday today.

'I don't think that's the reason.' Alex thought.

"Well, I already finished your papers." The dean handed him a brown long envelope while saying "You're new home and you're final allowance is in your bank account already."

"Thank you for all these years dean." Alex said while accepting it. He opened it and found the land deed and house property under his name.

The dean smiled hearing the words he wants to hear. "Alright, your new allocated home is in a small town. You will have your new start there away from this stressful city."

"Happy Birthday, Alex."

Alex walked out from the office and let out a deep breath.

'I have to take care of myself from now on.'

…

Alex walked out of the orphanage after carrying all his luggage. Waiting for the driver that was ordered by the dean to guide him to his new home.

From now on he was free and up for a new start.

He opened the brown envelope to check the address of his new home.

The house given by the government was at the outskirts of the city more or less the countryside.

Stingy as always, other kids are given houses inside the city because they suck up to the dean.

He has witnessed teenagers before when he was still in the orphanage were given good conditions after they were discharged from the orphanage.

It was said that the government will just give several plots of land and houses and the dean will do the rest of the allocation.

He is a lone wolf and never wants to suck up to anyone.

Engine sounds suddenly interrupted his train of thoughts and a car appeared in front of him.

The driver got out of the car and assisted him with his luggage.

"Can you go first with my luggage?, I still have something to do." Alex asked, "Also can you come back after and get me?."

The driver agreed and drove ahead first.

Alex has to get his diploma from the school. He plans to not attend the graduation next week. He already informed his adviser that he will get his diploma ahead of time because of the circumstance.

He arrived at the school 30 minutes later and got the diploma.

While in the way back to the orphanage he heard a shrill scream. It seems to be a few blocks away from him.

He hurriedly approached the source and found in an obscure alleyway, a girl was cornered by a gangster.

He hid quietly and observed the situation.

The girl was wearing a familiar school uniform, seems like his junior. She was trembling and has the posture of pleading.

The man keeps approaching the girl slowly while talking. He can't hear the details but he seems to enjoy the situation, cornering a prey. Enjoying each expression of fear of his prey.

While observing the situation, he noticed a small dandelion being stepped on by the man.

'looks like I can test my skills a bit.'

[Bind]

While cultivating a few days ago, he also practiced his only skill. He become more familiar as he casted it several times. He also noticed that the skill only works when there are nearby plants, the skill will not conjure plants out of thin air. He can cast 10 binds until his qi runs out.

The dandelion suddenly grew fast and intertwined with the man's foot and locked tightly.

The two didn't notice the abnormal growth of the plant as they were absorbed in the situation.

The man suddenly lost his center of gravity and fell forward.

Alex suddenly realized that if the man fell forward, he and the girl will fall together.

"Dodge!" He shouted but it seems that his concern was unnecessary. The girl swiftly dodge as she noticed the situation.

"Run!"

Alex and the girl ran away from the alleyway until they can't run anymore.

They stopped at the nearby park and rested for a moment to catch their breaths.

They looked at each other and let out a sigh simultaneously.

"Thanks for helping me out there." The girl said intermittently, her breathing is still out of order because of panic and the sudden exercise.

Alex was leaning on his knees as he is also tired. Although after the breakthrough his body improved a bit but it still can't handle that large burst of sprint.

"No need, I would help anyone if their in that situation." Alex said while standing straight, 'and also you were my junior. I couldn't act like I don't care, it's not my personality.'

"Anyway I still need to thank you, if you weren't there, I would be all over the news next morning." The girl said, fear lingering on her face.

She straightened up her clothes and pulled her backpack.

"My name is Emma, I need to know what's my savior's name right?" She said while reaching out her left hand.

"Alex." He also reached out to shake hands.

"Can I invite you for a dinner? As a form of gratitude for saving me earlier."

"No, it's okay I still have something to do." Alex said indifferently as he went back to his way planning to go the orphanage already.

Emma awkwardly stood there, watching Alex's back. She suddenly thought of something and shouted.

"Hey Alex, at least accept my number, okay? You can call me if you need anything." She run up to him and handed him a note and ran away without waiting for his reply.

He stared at the note with numbers written on it on his hands. He kept it on his pocket. Anyway, he thinks that they won't meet again since he won't be on this area for a long time.

He arrived outside of the orphanage and saw the car that sent his luggage first to his new house. He went near and opened the car door.

"Sorry for the wait, I was held up by a matter." Alex apologized and explained.

The driver nodded, "It's okay, it was not that long."

The car drove further away and left fumes of smoke in the air as it dissipates in the atmosphere.